Maple lumber collection
Clean, pale domestic alternative for furniture and utility builds.
View optionAfrican Crabwood Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
African Crabwood is best understood by how it looks, how it works, and where it should be used. This guide explains the practical buying details before sending you to the right Kingma products.
Scientific nameCarapa grandiflora and C.
Janka hardness1,180 lbf
Average dried weight43.3 lb/ft³
Best fitCabinetry
Overview
Why choose African Crabwood?
African Crabwood is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Tropical West Africa east to Uganda and Tanzania. It is useful when the project calls for cabinetry, flooring, and furniture
For SEO and customer usefulness, this page separates the science from the buying decision: appearance, working behaviour, durability, project fit, and then the right Kingma shopping path.
Scientific nameCarapa grandiflora and C.
DistributionTropical West Africa east to Uganda and Tanzania
ShrinkageRadial: 4.8%, Tangential: 7.7%, Volumetric: 12.7%, T/R Ratio: 1.6* *See comments below regarding strength and shrinkage.
DurabilityAfrican crabwood is considered moderately durable regarding decay resistance.
African Crabwood colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood tends to be a pale reddish brown, darkening with age to a medium to dark brown. Sapwood is a lighter pink or pale brown, not always demarcated from heartwood.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: african crabwood has a uniform, fine to medium texture with a medium natural luster and a straight grain, though the grain is sometimes wavy or interlocked.
Working notes
In the shop, overall easy to work with both hand and machine tools. Sometimes pieces with interlocked grain will cause tearout during surfacing operations.
There have been no health effects associated specifically with African crabwood, though this may be due to its relative obscurity.
African Crabwood should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for African Crabwood
Best projects
Cabinetry, flooring, and furniture
Use caution
Avoid specifying it by name alone; confirm board size, moisture, colour, figure, and the project environment before buying.
Finish strategy
Test finishes on offcuts first, especially when colour, blotching, outdoor exposure, or grain filling matters.
Buying note
Choose boards, slabs, plywood, blanks, or posts based on the project rather than species name alone.
Shop path
Buying African Crabwood from Kingma
Start with the direct species match when Kingma sells it. If stock rotates, use the closest live collection or a clearly explained alternative.
Live edge slabs
Use when the customer cares more about slab format and visual impact than this exact species.
View optionSimilar woods and alternatives
If Kingma does not have an exact match online, use the buying links below as practical alternatives only when the colour, grain, hardness, or project environment makes sense.
African Crabwood FAQ
What is African Crabwood best used for?
African Crabwood is best considered for cabinetry, flooring, and furniture. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is African Crabwood beginner friendly?
It depends on density, grain direction, and tooling. Test cuts on offcuts first, and choose Maple, Cherry, Walnut, or Poplar when easier machining is the priority.
Does Kingma sell African Crabwood?
Use the buying section on this page. If an exact product is not listed, the linked alternatives are included only when they make practical sense for colour, grain, or project use.